Willie Rennie will insist a second vote on the issue is the 'last thing' the country needs

But speaking ahead of the Liberal Democrat manifesto launch in Edinburgh, Mr Rennie said: "Votes for the Liberal Democrats will stop another divisive independence referendum from the nationalists.

"With the Scottish economy teetering on the edge of a recession, the performance of Scottish education dropping down the international rankings and mental health services failing to deliver, the last thing our country needs is another divisive and distracting independence referendum."

"We will keep the triple-lock on the state pension. We will scrap the Conservatives' two-child rule for tax credits which causes the 'rape clause' that has outraged people in Scotland.

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"We will promote a Scotland and a Britain that are open, tolerant and united."

Ukip Scottish leader David Coburn will also launch his party's manifesto for the election in the capital today.

Elsewhere, Miss Sturgeon will focus on her party's plans to tackle inequality and poverty as she campaigns in North East Fife – a seat the Liberal Democrats hope to win back from the SNP.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will be in Angus, an area where she hopes her party can make gains at the expense of the nationalists, while Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will visit a housing association in Glasgow.